Euro 2024: Spain advances to knockout spherical with assertion win over defending champion Italy

Italy’s Mattia Zaccagni, left, and Spain’s Robin Le Normand problem for the ball throughout a Group B match between Spain and Italy on the Euro 2024 soccer match in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, on June 20, 2024.
| Picture Credit score: AP

Spain, the three-time European champion superior to the spherical of 16 at Euro 2024 after a 1-0 win towards holder Italy on Thursday.

A Fifty fifth-minute personal objective by Riccardo Calafiori settled the Group B recreation on the Veltins Area in Gelsenkirchen. However that didn’t start to inform the story of a press release efficiency from Spain, which certainly marks it as one of many favorites to win a record-extending fourth European Championship.

“I believe it was the very best Spain efficiency I’ve taken cost of,” coach Luis de la Fuente mentioned. “I don’t see a ceiling on this workforce. The sky is the restrict.”

Spain completely dominated defending champion Italy, with 16-year-old winger Lamine Yamal additional enhancing his popularity as one among soccer’s most enjoyable younger stars.

Participant of the match Nico Williams additionally tormented Italy’s defenders and was the width of the crossbar away from scoring within the second half.

It took Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to maintain the rating down with a string of advantageous saves till inadvertently pushing the ball into the legs of Calafiori, who couldn’t forestall it from ricocheting into his personal objective.

“They deserved to win and we have been by no means within the recreation,” Italy coach Luciano Spalletti mentioned. “There was an excessive amount of of a gulf. We have been consistently stretched, we have been by no means in a position to squeeze the gaps between the assorted models and so they have been in a position to trigger us issues. They prompted us extra issues than the scoreline suggests, let’s not beat across the bush.”

Spain produced a throwback efficiency that delivered to thoughts the years when it dominated worldwide soccer when successful back-to-back Euros and the World Cup from 2008 by 2012.

Having did not dominate possession for the primary time in 136 aggressive video games in its opening 3-0 win over Croatia, Spain was again to its previous methods in ravenous Italy of the ball and dictating play in a largely lopsided recreation.

Probabilities got here thick and quick within the first half, with Donnarumma pulling off a string of saves to maintain the rating goalless.

For all of Spain’s superiority, it took Calafiori’s personal objective to interrupt the impasse after halftime.

Donnarumma pushed Alvaro Morata’s glancing header into the legs of Calafiori, who might solely watch because the ball ricocheted into the again of the online.

Williams was then millimeters away from extending the lead with a curling shot that hit crossbar.

“We dominated throughout the board,” Williams mentioned. “Italy are a superb aspect however we performed very nicely and deserved to win.”

Williams is simply one of many brilliant younger stars in De la Fuente’s workforce. Yamal is one other and the Barcelona teenager, who has a $1 billion buyout clause, showcased his skills with slaloming runs and tips.

Barcelona midfielder Pedri seems just like the modern-day reply to Spain nice Andres Iniesta.

“I need to underline the standard of this technology of gamers, significantly these on this squad. Spanish gamers are the very best on this planet,” De la Fuente mentioned.

Spain has endured irritating occasions because it final received the Euros in 2012, with early exits from the final three World Cups.

On the final Euros, it misplaced on penalties to Italy within the semifinals.

However there have been indicators of its resurgence in latest occasions, having received the UEFA Nations League final yr.

Now it seems well-positioned so as to add one other main title in Germany.

“Primarily we haven’t achieved something but,” De la Fuente mentioned. “Soccer will be very merciless. We’ve got to be cautious, humble and present resect.”

England drew 1-1 with Denmark in Group C after Harry Kane scored after which made a mistake that led to the Danes’ leveler. Kane struck a record-extending sixty fourth objective for his nation to fireplace England forward in Frankfurt. However his free go then allowed Morten Hjulmand to equalize from lengthy vary.

Within the different Group C recreation, Luka Jovic scored in stoppage time to salvage a 1-1 for Serbia towards Slovenia.

England leads the group on 4 factors and is more likely to advance to the spherical of 16.